Delayed from it's originally expected 2012 launch, developer CCP Games has now announced that the open beta test for PlayStation 3-exclusive shooter Dust 514 will now kick off on January 22 2013, effectively launching the full game itself, as the studio explains that no further character resets are planned.

By uniting DUST 514 and EVE Online on the same single-shard server, CCP has accomplished something unprecedented in videogame history: a single persistent online universe of incredible depth and scale that bridges the PC and console platforms in real time. Furthermore, this marks the first time two games from different genres, a space combat simulator and a first-person shooter, have been linked together into one, massive online experience.

“The launch of the DUST 514 Open Beta is another step towards our long-term vision for CCP and EVE,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP. “But this is just the beginning. As we have done with EVE Online, in the coming weeks, and for years to come, we will continually improve upon and add to the DUST 514 experience, as well as add deeper integration between the two games and their communities.”

Dust 514 will be Free-to-play supported by micro-transactions, and available for digital download on PSN.